Sewing machine



Feb. 5, 1946. B: CLAYTON 2,394,510

SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i r I l l I I cfindrew B. CZaytaw A. B. CLAYTON 2,394,510

SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1'7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW;

Feb. 5, 1946.

Feb. 5, 1946.

A. B. CLAYTON 2,394,510

SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 j 7 Z5 9 l i EM? 4.\,4\Q A m... In 18 l! a w I: cflndrezd 5.6742910,

- L r 9543 l I 0 l z Patented Feb. 5, 1946 SEWING MACHINE Andrew B. Clayton, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,821

11 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and it has as a primary object to provide an improved sewing machine which will afford better visibility at the stitching point, as well as minimize interference with the operator in handling the work and the likelihood of having the operators head contact parts of the sewin machine, even when she is closely scrutinizing the work at the stitching point.

In performing certain sewing operations such, for example, as close edge stitching on shoe uppers and gloves, especially in the crotch at the junction of two fingers of a glove (where the use of an edge guide for the work is not feasible) it is necessary that the machine operator closely observe and control the point at which the needle enters the work. To do this, in prior machines, it has been necessary for the operator to lean forward and place her head in such position that she may have an unobstructed close-up view of the work at the stitching point. This position has been difficult to attain because, if the operator does not lean forward far enough, her vision is obstructed by the work. If she leans slightly too far forwardly, her vision is obstructed .by the bracket-arm and by parts carried thereby. Furthermore, this position of the operator is not only difiicult to attain but it is also tiring to hold and it interferes with proper manipulation of the work. Still further, it places the operators head in such position that, not infrequently, an

operator is injured by contact with parts of the machine. This condition is particularly hazardous for operators who wear eye-glasses or who tend to be nearsighted.

Not the least annoying feature of prior machines has been the construction and arrangement of the machine standard and the overhanging bracket-arm. In prior machines the standard has usually risen vertically from the right end of the work-supporting plate of the sewing machine and the bracket-arm has projected to the left therefrom over the mid-portion of the work-supporting plate. This arrangement has, in many instances, interfered with the introduction and manipulation of the work, especially work which is necessarily led in from the right side, and has given the operator a feeling of being crowded in the region of her right arm and head, especially when leaning forward as above described.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged left end View of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with the face-plate removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a sewing machine comprising a base I, afiording a horizontally disposed work-supporting plate 2, having a front edge 1, at the side at which the operator sits, and a rear edge 1' remote therefrom. Preferably a portion 3 of the work-supporting plate is removably secured to the main portion thereof and is provided with a needle-hole 71. and slots s for the passageof a conventional feed-dog d, later to be described. The portion 3 is commonly known as the throat-plate of the machine but for the purpose of this disclosure may be considered broadly as a part of the work-supporting plate.

Rising from the right end of the work-supporting plate 2 is a hollow standard 4 having formed integrally therewith an overhanging bracket-arm 5 carrying at its free end a bracket-arm head 6. Journaled lengthwise of the arm 5is a main or needle-bar driving shaft 1 carrying, at its rear end, a combined belt-pulley and hand wheel 8 which may be driven from any suitable source of power.

Journaled in the base I, beneath the worksupporting plate 2, is a rotary loop-taker driving shaft 9 which, through mechanism designated generally as :r, imparts to a chain-stitch looper L its lengthwise and sidewise movements common to two-thread chain-stitch sewing machines.

Also carried by the base I, beneath the workplate, is a conventional four-motioned workfeeding mechanism including a feed-drive rockshaft I0 connected to one end of a reciprocatory feed-bar II which carries the feed-dog d, and a feed-lift rock-shaft l2 which is connected to the feed-bar to give it its rising and falling movements.

Loop-taking and work-feeding mechanisms of the type indicated herein are disclosed more fully parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the in my United States" Patent No. 2,345,327, March the underside of the base I is the casing l8 of an oil pump which draws oil from a reservoir formed in a pan on which the machine is nor mally supported and forces the oil to the various bearings throughout the machine. This pumpis actuated by a vertically arranged shaft Ht jour consequently permitting the use of substantially less spring pressure to force the presser-foot downwardly on the Work during high speed operation of the machine.

Preferably, the standard, the bracket-arm head, the needle-bar and the presser-bar are inclined rearwardly between eight and sixteen degrees to a vertical'plane extendingklengthwiseof' the machine. As illustrated in the drawings the angle at inclination of these parts is, in the neighborhood of twelve degrees, but it is to be understood naled in the pump casing and driven from the bevel gear l! by a matingbevel gear 20. The,

pump 0 and the means for distributing oil therefrom to the various bearings of the machineal'so are disclosed in my above mentioned patent. 'I,he feed-drive roclg-shaft l0 and the teed-lift rock shaft l z are actuated from eccentrics; 2i nd carried by the arm, shaft 7-, through the medium of pitmans 23 and 24 connected; to rockarms 25 and 26 carried, respectively, by the shafts Mew-4 i V n. a qrd n wi h. the rresec n nt n and. as indicated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3; the longitudinal; axisof the standard; 4 is upwardly inclinedrearwardly- ,away from the front, of the work-supporting plate. This inclination of the standard is: of great importance as it places the upper1-.PDrtion of ,the vstandard, and the entire bracket arm carriedthereby, well to therear'of thev machine; vthus giving the operator; greater clearance for the introduction andmani-pulation of ,the work, and greater freedom, for movement other head andrightarm, as well as relieving her from the discomfort of feeling crowded and un-. necessarilyrestricted as tomovement The bracket-arm head 6., carried by the bracka et-arm. 5,. also is vertically inclined rearwardly similarlyzto the. ihclinationofthe standard 4, and

carries an inclined reciprocating needle bar 21 actuatedtfrom the sh'aft'l by, a conventional'crank and link mechanism designated generally: as y. Th'needle-bm carries, at its lower end, a'downwardly and forwardly inclined eye-pointed needle N which cooperates with the loop-taker L in the formation 0f stitches. The needle-bar also car ries. a forwardly projecting take-uparm 28which extends beyondthe front face of the bracketarm head and'coo'pe'rates with afsuitable thread g'uide 29-, thread-retaining element "38, and thread checking device 31 in thecontrolli'ng of the thread and the setting of the stitches. Exceptior their rials t en s: be defle t location and arrangement, the head 6 and the V eluding a sole portion 35', adapted .to bear fiatwis'e on the worn-supporting plate, and an upturned toeportion as. This inclinationof the presse bar facilitates feeding, of the work'asit greatly reduces the lateral thrustimposed upon the presser-bar :and avoids damping actionbetween the er. eeq'i j e' ihfee Th h .b i e f i maintained more freely movable in its bearings,"

t hi P i t. and to ateau;

thataslight deviation from this angle, in either. direction, is permissible and practical without departingfrom -this invention and without sacrificmg the adikintagesjattained thereby.

It has been found that if the parts are inclined less; than about eight degrees from the vertical,

a clear vision of the stitching point is not obtained and the machine elements are located in such po i ion; that, they are likel to becontacted; by the operators. head or face when, she 1 e @nS 'f O1 W' dei h uch: c nat qn 0. th ar s does, not afiofrd theoptimum; clearance; in; the e ions o hev e de end e rerhaneine bracket-arm. I W n e: Par a e nclin dereater-thae six: teen degrces the point of the needle does-not. always properly penetrate certain; types-1 fi itime res l ng; in t in the breaking of presser-bar arrange L a V ee degr e t eer t he me k-m ar v h iront ,Q .t. l ha .hi aed a eiitlece tion- QppQ$ cl tqt edi e t n: mov ment ot-the.

i O kby e ed neme h n smi hich,isobiec tionablep Preferably th arts; shou d, "b i clinedme'are W y sufiiQ en ,yte aq the enti ebracket-arm head rearwardly of a vert a; plane, extending g w e 9 he ar i il rsectingrthe ro ect QI W-3' id y- Item; th t head, watta e a vert al p n as heendisclosed-aseme the, ad ch t-stitch sewin ma-l A hat-t inv ntion-is: at y eo se m nmachine'but-i sa essameadv-an.v tages, wh nembed d n ether .pes-ef sewine machines, such, for examplggajs ofithe-lockestitch he natureot tne invena 1S2 As'ewinemaq .nQh vin ifi iamefiineluqlin or zon ally; di sed -su pertme plam d astanda d-wnmrted' c Wardly ,d eaeWe ely-Wrte res-nectr pa er t a pl ne leng hwise fl'f.- i:m% h zontally -disposed bracket-armprcje r oms ie d sta dard; .W par lel tov theleaei-Wd s peer ne leta,e :br qke the free end of sa d bracketl ed 1 id ree eh r n l a 't ai teee1 d..;-a d .sti ing mechanism carried by said frame an m dpwnwerdly werq r in lieee-neee et sow h an ang e. e aterthaii and inclined rearwardly away from the front thereof, a horizontally disposed bracket-arm rojecting laterally from said standard and over-, hanging said plate, a bracket-arm head carried by the free end of said bracket-arm, said head being inclined in a direction and to a degree similar to the direction and degree of inclination of said standard, and stitch-forming mechanism carried by said frame and including a downwardly forwardly inclined needle, and loop-taking mechanism located beneath said Work-supporting plate and cooperating with said needle in the formation of stitches. V

3. A sewing machine having a frame comprising a horizontally disposed work-supporting plate,

a standard extending upwardly from said plate and inclined rearwardly away from the front thereof, a horizontally disposed bracket-arm projecting laterally from said standard and overhanging said plate, a bracket-arm head carried by the free end of said bracket-arm, said head being inclined rearwardly similarly to the inclination of said standard, and stitch-forming mechanism carried by said frame and including an upwardly rearwardly inclined reciprocatory needlebar mounted in said head, a needle carried by the lower end of said needle-bar, and loop-taking mechanism located beneath said work-supporting plate and cooperating with said needle in the formation of stitches.

4. A sewing machine having a frame comprising a base aifording a horizontally disposed worksupporting plate, a standard extending upwardly from said plate and inclined rearwardly away from the front thereof, a horizontally disposed bracket-arm projecting laterally from said standard and overhanging said plate, a bracket-arm head carried by the free end of said bracketarm, said head being inclined in a direction similar to the direction of inclination of said standard, stitch-forming mechanism carried by said frame and including an upwardly rearwardly inclined reciprocatory needle-bar mounted in said head, a needle carried by the lower end of said needle-bar, chain-stitch loop-taking mechanism located beneath said work-supporting plate and cooperating with said needle in the formation of chain stitches, and work-feeding mechanism carried by said base beneath said work-supporting plate.

5. A sewing machine having a frame comprising a horizontally disposed work-supporting plate, a standard extending upwardly from said late and inclined rearwardly away from the front thereof with its axis approximately twelve de-- grees from a vertical plane lengthwise of the machine, a horizontally disposed bracket-arm projecting laterally from said standard and overhanging said plate, a bracket-arm head carried by the free end of said bracket-arm, said head being inclined rearwardly similarly to the inclination of said standard, a presser-bar mounted in said head and upwardly inclined rearwardly approximately twelve degrees from said vertical plane, a presser-foot carried by said presser-bar and having a sole portion bearing fiatwise upon said work-supporting plate, and stitch-forming mechanism carried by said frame and including an upwardly rearwardly inclined reciprocatory needle-bar mounted in said head substantially parallel to said presser-bar, a needle carried by the lower end of said needle-bar, and loop-taking mechanism located beneath said work-supporting plate and complemental to said needle in the formation of stitches.

6. A sewing machine having a frame comprising a, base affording a horizontally disposed Worksupporting plate, a standard extending upwardly from said plate and inclined rearwardly away from the front thereof, a horizontally disposed bracket-arm projecting laterally from said standard and overhanging said plate, a bracketarm head carried by the free end of said bracketarm, said head being inclined rearwardly sim ilarly to the inclination of said standard, a needle-bar driving shaft journaled lengthwise of said arm, a loop-taker driving shaft journaled lengthwise of said base, said needle-bar driving shaft being located in a vertical plane rearwardly of a vertical plane containing said loop-taker driving shaft, and stitch-forming mechanism carried by said frame and including an upwardly. rearwardly inclined reciprocatory needle-bar mounted in said head and actuated from said needle-bar driving shaft, a needle carried by the lower end. of said needle-bar, and a loop-taker l cat d beneath said work-supporting plate and operated from said loop-taker driving shaft and complemental to said needle in the formation of stitches.

7. A sewing machine having a frame comprising a horizontally disposed work supporting plate, a standard extending upwardly from said plate and inclined rearwardly away from the front thereof, a horizontally disposed bracket-arm projecting laterally from said standard and overhanging said plate, a bracket-arm headcarried by the free end of said bracket-arm, said head being inclined rearwardly similarly to the inclination of said standard, an upwardly rearwardly inclined presser-bar mounted in .said head, a presser-foot carried by said presser-bar and having a sole portion bearing flatwise on said worksupporting plate and an upturned toe portion, a shaft journaled lengthwise of said arm, stitchforming mechanism carried by said frame and including an upwardly rearwardly inclined reciprocatory needle-bar mounted in said head and actuated from said shaft, a needle carried by the lower end of said needle-bar, loop-taking mechanism located beneath said work-supporting plate and cooperating with said needle in the formation of stitches, and take-up mechanism extending forwardly from said bracket-arm head and actuated from said shaft, said take-up mechanism being located rearwardly of a vertical plane transverse to and containing the toe-portion of said presser-foot.

8. A sewing machine having a frame comprising a base affording a horizontally disposed work-supporting plate, a standard extending upwardly from said plate and inclined rearwardly away from the front thereof, a horizontally disposed bracket-arm projecting laterally from said standard and overhanging said plate, a bracketarm head carried by the free end of said bracketarm, said head being inclined rearwardly similarly to the inclination of said standard, a shaft journaled lengthwise of said arm, a loop-taker shaft journaled in said base, means for rotating one of said shafts, an operative connection extending lengthwise of said inclined standard for driving one of said shafts from the other, titchforming mechanism carried by said frame and including an upwardly rearwardly inclined reciprocatory needle-bar mounted in said head, a needle carried by the lower end of said needlebar, loop-taking mechanism located beneath said work-supporting plate and cooperating with said needle in the formation of stitches, work-feeding mechanism carried by said base beneath said nrising a base afiording a horizontally disposed work-supporting plate, a standard .extending 'up ar ly. fromsaidp te a having ts-axisw nf lit t ea w rdly b weem and sixteertder areas f om. th ertic l; a. horiz n a y dispose hrfacketearm projecting laterally frnm said, stand;. an a d overhan i s id plataa racket-arm ead a r ed, by etfreet end rsaid bracketrarnm, said, head being inclineddrearwardlyr similarlyto the inclination of said standard, and stitcha forming mechanism ,carriedby said, frame and nclu ing. anupwa d rearwardlyinclined .recintrgcatory needles-bare mounted in said. head,

needle carried by the-lower; emi-- of: said needle: bar; and loontakingnmechanismlocated beneath said work-supportingplate and cooperating'with said-needle in the formation of stitches.v

11; A- sewing machine havinga framecompris= ing; a. base; a. standardextendingupwardly from said base a bracketa-arm projectihgi'laterally V fromv saidj standard and overhanging said base; a bracket-armhead carried;by the free. end of saidibracket' arm, a horizontally disposed! needleliar driving; shaft? jpurnaled' lengthwise ofjsaid arm, a 1oop-takerdri'ving shaftjo irnaledlength-r wise ofl sai vbase and paranerto saidLneedle-bar driving shaft, said needle-bar driving shaftbeing located in a .vertiCa1'plane reanwardly, off. a vertical plane, containing said loop-takers shaft,

- stitch;forming mechanism. carried. by said.v frame and, including an upwardly rearwardly inolined reciprocating needle-bar mounted in said head and ,ractuated from said needle-bar driyi11g shaf.t,, a needle l rriedyby-v the lower. end of said needle bar. and extending downwardly forwardly there-- from, and a loopetaker operated. from-said loop taker driving shaft and, cooperating. with: said needle in.-the-.formation of stitches.

I ANDREW'B. CLAYTON, 

